About 10,000 Christian school students in Jerusalem could not return to school after Christmas break. The reason for this is the decision of the Israeli authorities. The authorities decided not to extend work permits to 171 teachers from occupied West Bank territories. The directors of 12 private educational institutions based in the city declared a strike against this decision by the authorities.
"Such procedures benefit only those who want to harm the education and education system," wrote the General Secretariat of Christian educational institutions in Jerusalem in a communication of 10 January. This problem has already appeared in the summer, explains Brother Daoud Kassabry, manager of the College of the School Brothers, a gathering founded by St. John the Baptist de la Salle in an article published on TerraSanta.net and in the paper “La Croix”. At that time, any permits were only extended to 11 January, with "a fewer licences issued covering Saturday, which is nevertheless a school day".
Private schools under expanding pressure
The State of Israel, according to the Terra Santa Foundation website, “confirms that the Palestinian curriculum incites hatred and denies the right to exist. As a result, private schools are under expanding force to accept the Israeli curriculum as a condition for obtaining a grant, while their budgets are heavy burdened by war."
The Palestinian Ministry of Education besides supports the protest. "These measures form part of an intentional attack on the Palestinian education strategy in Jerusalem aimed at undermining Palestinian identity, limiting the right to education and hindering the right to free movement, which is simply a violation of global regulations and conventions". This position is set out in the Ministry's statement, which besides stresses that "the acquisition of full and unlimited permits" is "a fundamental right which cannot be infringed or amended".
Permanent threat to educational establishments
Following the publication of the Christian Schools protest against “arbitrary action”, the Israeli authorities decided to extend any permits, but only 5 days alternatively of the usual seven.
Israel presently gives temporary permits to the West Bank Palestinians to work legally in Israel; they are subject to safety checks and are limited in time. The draft Act of 2025, which is presently being examined by the Israeli Parliament of Kneset, "is intended to prohibit the hiring of teachers who have studied in Palestinian territories". due to the fact that more than sixty percent of teachers in Jerusalem have specified diplomas, “this measurement poses a permanent threat to educational institutions,” criticizes TerraSanta.net.
Source: KAI
